A probabilistic approach to quantum mechanics based on ‘tomograms’

It is usually believed that a picture of Quantum Mechanics in terms of true probabilities cannot be given due to the uncertainty relations. Here we discuss a tomographic approach to quantum states that leads to a probability representation of quantum states. This can be regarded as a classical‐like formulation of quantum mechanics which avoids the counterintuitive concepts of wave function and density operator. The relevant concepts of quantum mechanics are then reconsidered and the epistemological implications of such approach discussed.     

Measurement in Bohm's versus Everett's quantum theory

The interpretations of measurements in Bohm's and Everett's quantum theories are compared. Since both theories are based on the assumption of a universally valid Schrödinger equation, they face the common problem of how to explain that arrow of time, which in conventional quantum theory is represented by the collapse of the wave function. Its solution requires, in a statistical sense, a very improbable initial condition for thetotal wave function of the universe. The historical importance of Bohm's quantum theory is pointed out.     

A global equilibrium as the foundation of quantum randomness

We analyze the origin of quantum randomness within the framework of a completely deterministic theory of particle motion—Bohmian mechanics. We show that a universe governed by this mechanics evolves in such a way as to give rise to the appearance of randomness, with empirical distributions in agreement with the predictions of the quantum formalism. Crucial ingredients in our analysis are the concept of the effective wave function of a subsystem and that of a random system. The latter is a notion of interest in its own right and is relevant to any discussion of the role of probability in a deterministic universe.Research supported in part by NSF Grant DMS-9105661.     

Typicality vs. Probability in Trajectory-Based Formulations of Quantum Mechanics

Bohmian mechanics represents the universe as a set of paths with a probability measure defined on it. The way in which a mathematical model of this kind can explain the observed phenomena of the universe is examined in general. It is shown that the explanation does not make use of the full probability measure, but rather of a suitable set function deriving from it, which defines relative typicality between single-time cylinder sets. Such a set function can also be derived directly from the standard quantum formalism, without the need of an underlying probability measure. The key concept for this derivation is the quantum typicality rule, which can be considered as a generalization of the Born rule. The result is a new formulation of quantum mechanics, in which particles follow definite trajectories, but which is based only on the standard formalism of quantum mechanics.     

Quantum Dynamics and Kinematics from a Statistical Model Selected by the Principle of Locality

Quantum mechanics predicts correlation between spacelike separated events which is widely argued to violate the principle of local causality. By contrast, here we shall show that the Schrödinger equation with Born’s statistical interpretation of wave function and uncertainty relation can be derived from a statistical model of microscopic stochastic deviation from classical mechanics which is selected uniquely, up to a free parameter, by the principle of Local Causality. Quantization is thus argued to be physical and Planck constant acquires an interpretation as the average stochastic deviation from classical mechanics in a microscopic time scale. Unlike canonical quantization, the resulting quantum system always has a definite configuration all the time as in classical mechanics, fluctuating randomly along a continuous trajectory. The average of the relevant physical quantities over the distribution of the configuration are shown to be equal numerically to the quantum mechanical average of the corresponding Hermitian operators over a quantum state.     

Loss of incoherence and determination of coupling constants in quantum gravity

The wave function of an interacting ‘family’ of one large ‘parent’ and many Planck-sized ‘baby’ universes is computed in a semiclassical approximation using an adaptation of Hartle-Hawking initial conditions. A recently discovered gravitational instanton which exists for general relativity coupled to axions is employed. The outcome of a single experiment in the parent universe is in general described by a mixed state, even if the initial state is pure. However, a sequence of measurements rapidly collapses the wave function of the family of universes into one of an infinite number of ‘coherent’ states for which quantum incoherence is not observed in the parent universe. This provides a concrete illustration of an unexpected phenomena whose existence has been argued for on quite general grounds by Coleman: quantum incoherence due to information loss to baby universes is not experimentally observable. We further argue that all coupling constants governing dynamics in the parent universe depend on the parameters describing the particular coherent state into which the family wave function collapses. In particular, generically terms that violate any global symmetries will be induced in the effective action for the parent universe. These last results have much broader applicability that our specific model.     

Particle Dynamics of a Phase Space Distribution Function

No Heading A hydrodynamic analogy for quantum mechanics is used to develop a phase-space representation in terms of a quasi-probability distribution function. Averages over phase space using this approach agree with the usual expectation values of quantum mechanics for a certain class of observables. We also derive the equations of motion that particles in an ensemble would have in phase space in order to mimic the time development of this probability distribution, thus giving the position and momentum of particles in the ensemble as a function of time. The equations of motion separate into position and momentum components. The position component reproduces the de Broglie-Bohm equation of motion. As a simple example, we calculate the phase space trajectories and entropy of a free particle wave packet.     

The Self-Induced Approach to Decoherence in Cosmology

In this paper we will present the self-induced approach to decoherence, which does not require the interaction between the system and the environment: decoherence in closed quantum systems is possible. This fact has relevant consequences in cosmology, where the aim is to explain the emergence of classicality in the universe conceived as a closed (noninteracting) quantum system. In particular, we will show that the self-induced approach may be used for describing the evolution of a closed quantum universe, whose classical behavior arises as a result of decoherence.     

High-order kinetic flux vector splitting schemes in general coordinates for ideal quantum gas dynamics

A class of high-order kinetic flux vector splitting schemes are presented for solving ideal quantum gas dynamics based on quantum statistical mechanics. The collisionless quantum Boltzmann equation approach is adopted and both Bose–Einstein and Fermi–Dirac gases are considered. The formulas for the split flux vectors are derived based on the general three-dimensional distribution function in velocity space and formulas for lower dimensions can be directly deduced. General curvilinear coordinates are introduced to treat practical problems with general geometry. High-order accurate schemes using weighted essentially non-oscillatory methods are implemented. The resulting high resolution kinetic flux splitting schemes are tested for 1D shock tube flows and shock wave diffraction by a 2D wedge and by a circular cylinder in ideal quantum gases. Excellent results have been obtained for all examples computed.     

Foundations of the Quaternion Quantum Mechanics

We show that quaternion quantum mechanics has well-founded mathematical roots and can be derived from the model of the elastic continuum by French mathematician Augustin Cauchy, i.e., it can be regarded as representing the physical reality of elastic continuum. Starting from the Cauchy theory (classical balance equations for isotropic Cauchy-elastic material) and using the Hamilton quaternion algebra, we present a rigorous derivation of the quaternion form of the non- and relativistic wave equations. The family of the wave equations and the Poisson equation are a straightforward consequence of the quaternion representation of the Cauchy model of the elastic continuum. This is the most general kind of quantum mechanics possessing the same kind of calculus of assertions as conventional quantum mechanics. The problem of the Schrödinger equation, where imaginary ‘i’ should emerge, is solved. This interpretation is a serious attempt to describe the ontology of quantum mechanics, and demonstrates that, besides Bohmian mechanics, the complete ontological interpretations of quantum theory exists. The model can be generalized and falsified. To ensure this theory to be true, we specified problems, allowing exposing its falsity.     

Deterministic quantum evolution through modification of the hypotheses of statistical mechanics

It is claimed that for all apparatus capable of performing macroscopic measurements of microscopic systems there exist special internal states for which deterministic quantum evolution alone yields a particular macroscopic outcome rather than a superposition of macroscopically distinct outcomes. We maintain that these special states are distributed uniformly (in a certain sense) among the set of all states. It is hypothesized that for all actually performed experiments the initial conditions lie among the special states. We postulate that in the absence of precise information on apparatus initial conditions one should give equal weight to those microstates that are consistent with the macroscopic stateand are special in the sense used above. Evidence is presented for this postulate's recovering the usual quantum probabilities. This theory is fully deterministic, has no collapsing wave functions, and offers a resolution of the quantum measurement problem through a revision of the usual statistical mechanical handling of initial conditions. It requires a single wave function for the entire universe and an all encompassing conspiracy to arrange the right sort of special wave function for each experiment. In other words, an apparatus is in an appropriate microstate for the experiment that will actually happen even if an ostensibly random process is used to determine that experiment from among apparent alternatives. Although we do not provide physical or philosophical justification for our central hypothesis, some perspective is given by examining the notions implicit in the usual principles of thermodynamics.     

High-order kinetic flux vector splitting schemes in general coordinates for ideal quantum gas dynamics

A class of high-order kinetic flux vector splitting schemes are presented for solving ideal quantum gas dynamics based on quantum statistical mechanics. The collisionless quantum Boltzmann equation approach is adopted and both Bose–Einstein and Fermi–Dirac gases are considered. The formulas for the split flux vectors are derived based on the general three-dimensional distribution function in velocity space and formulas for lower dimensions can be directly deduced. General curvilinear coordinates are introduced to treat practical problems with general geometry. High-order accurate schemes using weighted essentially non-oscillatory methods are implemented. The resulting high resolution kinetic flux splitting schemes are tested for 1D shock tube flows and shock wave diffraction by a 2D wedge and by a circular cylinder in ideal quantum gases. Excellent results have been obtained for all examples computed.     

Cosmological dynamics in tomographic probability representation

The probability representation for quantum states of the universe in which the states are described by a fair probability distribution instead of wave function (or density matrix) is developed to consider cosmological dynamics. The evolution of the universe state is described by standard positive transition probability (tomographic transition probability) instead of the complex transition probability amplitude (Feynman path integral) of the standard approach. The latter one is expressed in terms of the tomographic transition probability. Examples of minisuperspaces in the framework of the suggested approach are presented. Possibility of observational applications of the universe tomographs are discussed.     

Single-particle distribution function of a quantum dot system at finite temperature

In the present paper, we shall rigorously re-establish the result of the single-particle function of a quantum dot system at finite temperature. Unlike the proof given in our previous work (Phys. Rev. B 74 195414 (2006)), we take a different approach, which does not exploit the explicit expression of the Gibbs distribution function. Instead, we only assume that the statistical distribution function of the quantum dot system is thermodynamically stable. As a result, we are able to show clearly that the electronic structure in the quantum dot system is completely determined by its thermodynamic stability. Furthermore, the weaker requirements on the statistical distribution function also make it possible to apply the same method to the quantum dot systems in non-equilibrium states.     

A quantum model for the stock market

Beginning with several basic hypotheses of quantum mechanics, we give a new quantum model in econophysics. In this model, we define wave functions and operators of the stock market to establish the Schrödinger equation for stock price. Based on this theoretical framework, an example of a driven infinite quantum well is considered, in which we use a cosine distribution to simulate the state of stock price in equilibrium. After adding an external field into the Hamiltonian to analytically calculate the wave function, the distribution and the average value of the rate of return are shown.     

Thermostatistics of the g-on gas

In this study, the particles of the quantum gases, namely bosons and fermions are called g-ons by using the parameter of the fractional exclusion statistics g, where . With this point of departure, the distribution function of the g-on gas is obtained by the variational, steepest descent and statistical methods. The distribution functions which are found by means of these three methods are compared. It is shown that the thermostatistical formulations of quantum gases can be unified. By suitable choices of g, standard relations of statistical mechanics of the Bose and Fermi systems are recovered.Received: 26 March 2003, Published online: 22 September 2003PACS: 05.20.-y Classical statistical mechanics - 03.65.-w Quantum mechanics     

Fractals and quantum mechanics

A new application of a fractal concept to quantum physics has been developed. The fractional path integrals over the paths of the Levy flights are defined. It is shown that if fractality of the Brownian trajectories leads to standard quantum mechanics, then the fractality of the Levy paths leads to fractional quantum mechanics. The fractional quantum mechanics has been developed via the new fractional path integrals approach. A fractional generalization of the Schrodinger equation has been discovered. The new relationship between the energy and the momentum of the nonrelativistic fractional quantum-mechanical particle has been established, and the Levy wave packet has been introduced into quantum mechanics. The equation for the fractional plane wave function has been found. We have derived a free particle quantum-mechanical kernel using Fox's H-function. A fractional generalization of the Heisenberg uncertainty relation has been found. As physical applications of the fractional quantum mechanics we have studied a free particle in a square infinite potential well, the fractional "Bohr atom" and have developed a new fractional approach to the QCD problem of quarkonium. We also discuss the relationships between fractional and the well-known Feynman path integral approaches to quantum mechanics. (c) 2000 American Institute of Physics.